Bringing track back

On several of the many Facebook groups dedicated to the reinstatement of the men’s track and field program, OU athletes have identified a strategy for encouraging the athletics department to reconsider its decision to make cuts. Along with the lacrosse team and swimming and diving team, OU track members plan to flood the athletic office and president’s office with complaints and letters, showing their immediate interest in the issue. They also propose a long term strategy of creating a field house that will increase revenue through events that can be held in the building and bring in better recruits.

Thus far, this plan has failed to lead to the reinstatement of any OU sports programs previously cut by the athletic department. However, it is important and interesting to know that the track team has a plan and that this plan even takes into account financial concerns. Team members have also looked to the success of other university sports programs that have fought for reinstatement. In 2005, the University of Vermont men’s track and field team won reinstatement after two years of absence when the university “realigned” its sports programs. However, the reinstatement came at the expense of tennis, golf and swimming programs, all of which were cut the year track was reinstated. Online groups supporting men’s track, a letter writing campaign and widespread belief by university officials that men’s track drew high-caliber students were all cited as reasons for the reinstatement.

An even more interesting example of a successful fight for reinstatement can be found at Dartmouth, where the men’s swim team successfully raised more than $2 million in private contributions to pay for its return in 2003. The contributions were pledged for the next ten years and were expected to pay for much, but not all, of the team’s expenses. Ultimately, both of these sports teams showed more than simply anger at the cutting of sports programs. They took initiative to find reasons for their own reinstatement.

Check out these links dealing with reinstatement:

A Facebook group in opposition of OU athletic director Kirby Hocutt outlined the policies of athletes in lobbying for reinstatement.

UVM campus newspaper, The Vermont Cynic, covered the reinstatement of the track and field team, while lamenting the loss of three other sports programs.

The Dartmouth News explained how zealous athletes saved men’s and women’s swimming and diving programs in 2003.